A World Turned Upside Down: Social Ecological Approaches to Children in War Zones »

Neil Boothby is an internationally recognized expert and advocate for children affected by war and displacement. As a senior representative of UNICEF, UNHCR and Save the Children, he has worked for more than 20 years with children in crises in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. As director of the Program on Forced Migration and Health and Professor of Clinical Population and Family Health at the Mailman School, his research focuses on the psychosocial consequences of organized violence on children. He is also the recipient of several awards for his fieldwork, including the Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year Award, for his work with child soldiers, the Mickey Leyland Award, for his work on behalf of uprooted people, the United Nation's Golden Achievement Award, for excellence in social sector activities, and Duke University's Humanitarian Service Award.

Allison Strang is a Research Fellow at the Institute for International Health and Development, Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh. She is a psychologist whose work has spanned the fields of education, training and health - generally focusing on addressing the needs marginalized groups.

Michael Wessells is Senior Child Protection Specialist for the Christian Children’s Fund, Professor of Clinical Population and Family Health at Columbia University in the Program on Forced Migration and Health, and Professor of Psychology at Randolph-Macon College.

* Authors with wide-ranging experience with children in war zones across the globe
* Looks at the psychology of children’s experiences in conflict in the context of their families and communities

A World Turned Upside Down looks at the experiences of children in war from a psychological and social ecological perspective, offering thoughtful observations and dispelling myths about what results when children grow up in conflict situations.

In contrast to individualized approaches, the volume offers a deeper conceptualization that shows the socially mediated impacts of war. Children exposed to the same traumatic experiences may have different reactions and needs for psychosocial support. Further, psychosocial assistance to war-affected children often occurs not through the provision of therapy by outsiders but via support from insiders.

Each contributor has worked extensively with children in war zones in Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia. They refrain from common perceptions of children as victims of war-induced trauma to provide a holistic understanding of children’s experiences. Each helps pinpoint ways to reduce further violence, foster well-being and nurture the kinds of social connections that can liberate children from the pathologies of war so that they can mature into healthy and well-adjusted adults.

Other contributors: Alastair Ager, Cairo Arafat, Catherine Chen, Amy E. Hepburn, Kathleen Kostelny, Siobhán McEvoy-Levy, Susan McKay, Dahab Musleh and Carl Triplehorn

Figures and Tables vii

Abbreviations and Acronyms ix

Introduction 1

1 A culture-based, integrative approach Helping war-affected children Kathleen Kostelny 19

2 What is family? The nature and functions of families in times of conflict Alastair Ager 39

3 Running scared When children become separated in emergencies Amy Hepburn 63

4 Girlhoods stolen The plight of girl soldiers during and after armed conflict Susan McKay 89

5 Education and hope A psychosocial assessment of Palestinian children Cairo Arafat Thahabieh Musleh 111

6 Silenced voices? Youth and peer relationships in armed conflict and its aftermath Siobhán McEvoy-Levy 133

7 When former child soldiers grow up The keys to reintegration and reconciliation Neil Boothby 155

8 A living wage The importance of livelihood in reintegrating former child soldiers Michael Wessells 179

9 Religion as resource and risk The double-edged sword for children in situations of armed conflict Michael Wessells Alison Strang 199

10 Layers of support The social ecology of protecting children in war Carl Triplehorn Catherine Chen 233

About the Authors 243

Index 247